ANOTHER town centre bank is to close this year. 

Natwest, based in Bank Buildings, George Street, is to close on April 26. 

When announcing the closures, Natwest said that "closing a branch is always difficult and not a decision that we ever take lightly."

Stroud News and Journal:

They look at the following:

  • the likely impact on customers.
  • how often customers use the branch 
  • their banking preferences
  • where the nearest branch and nearest cash machines are
  • is there a local Post Office® for everyday banking?
  • all the other banking options: Online, Mobile, Telephone and Video Banking.

In Stroud, Natwest say that when comparing January 2019 and January 2022, counter transactions for personal customers decreased by 58 per cent. 

They say that in 2021 76 per cent of personal customers using the branch also chose to use online banking or their mobile app

NatWest in Eastgate Street, Gloucester, is the nearest branch for users. 

This follows the news that HSBC is to shut in the town later in the year.

In the last twelve months Barclays and Halifax have also shut. 

NatWest has announced the closure of 23 branches across the country, adding to dozens that have already closed so far this month.

The bank said it had slated 21 sites in England to shut down and two in Wales.

It comes a week after Lloyds Banking Group said it would close 40 Halifax and Lloyds sites in England and Wales.

At the time the company blamed footfall, which has been rapidly decreasing since the onset of online banking and dropped further during the pandemic.

Lloyds said the number of customers visiting the branches it plans to close had dropped by 60 per cent on average over the last five years.

The latest announcement means 87 branches have been slated for closure by high street banks so far this year.

In October NatWest announced it planned to close 43 branches, adding to 15 announced in May and 21 in February.